The Most Absurd Federal Laws Still on the Books
A plain-English look at federal statutes that sound like historical leftovers but still sit inside federal law.
The United States Code contains serious law: civil rights protections, tax rules, criminal statutes, national defense provisions, and the structure of federal agencies. It also contains provisions that feel like museum pieces. Some are symbolic, some are technical, and some are remnants of old political compromises that no longer deserve space in modern law.
The problem is not that every odd federal law causes daily harm. The problem is that Congress has a strong habit of creating law and a much weaker habit of cleaning it out. When the code only grows, ordinary citizens have a harder time knowing what the law actually requires, and lawmakers face less pressure to revisit old decisions.
Federal abrogation should be practical, not reckless. The best repeal targets are laws that are obsolete, duplicative, unenforced, or better handled by a modern rule. Abrogate.org gives voters a way to ask a simple question: why is this still here?
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Congress repeal old federal laws?
Yes. Congress can pass legislation that repeals, revises, or replaces federal statutes.
Are symbolic federal laws always bad?
No. Some symbolic laws serve a purpose, but they should still be understandable and worth keeping.
What makes a federal law a good repeal target?
A strong target is obsolete, redundant, confusing, rarely used, or inconsistent with modern policy goals.